Shoe supported jewelry article

ABSTRACT

A jewelry article including a planar body having a first surface bearing a decorative design which may include one or more precious stones. The body includes a plurality of elongated slots extending therethrough accommodating the lowermost loop of an engaged shoelace whereby the article is supported upon an uppermost surface of a shoe.

RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to my corresponding provisional application for Letters Patent, Ser. No. 60/851,860 filed Oct. 16, 2006, to which a claim of priority is made.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of jewelry, and more particularly to an article of jewelry suitable for display upon the upper surface of a shoe of a wearer. It is know in the art to provide various forms of ornamentation upon the upper surface of a shoe, particularly in the form of surface ornamentation, and the like. Such decoration is not in the form of an article of jewelry. Most commonly, jewelry is worn about the neck or wrists of a user, or attached to a garment worn by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an article of jewelry adapted to be supported upon the instep portion of a shoe having elongated lacing for maintaining the shoe upon the foot of a wearer. The article is of generally planar configuration of up to approximately two inches in width, and up to one and one-half inches in height. It includes an outer surface bearing desired indicia, and optionally having means for supporting one or more precious stones. The body of the device includes a pair of mutually-spaced slotted openings through which the lowermost loop of the shoelace is passed to maintain the article in relatively fixed position on the shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention installed upon a shoe.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment in detached condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, includes a planar body 11 having an exposed outer surface 12 as well as an inner surface (not shown). It is bounded by an upper edge 14, and lower edge 15, as well as side edges 16 and 17. It is noted that the invention includes the use of a planar body which may be of other than rectangular shape.

Extending through the body 11 are a pair of spaced generally oval-shaped orifices 20 and 21 adjacent the side edges 16 and 17. The surface 12 may include the attached initials 22 of the user, as well as optional stone supporting settings (not shown).

The device is used in connection with a lace-type shoe 19, including a flexible upper portion 24 having an instep area 25 having eyelets 28 engaging a flexible lace 27 in known manner.

The device is normally mounted by passing the lowermost loop of the shoelace through the orifices 20-21, following which the shoe is laced and tied in known manner with a knot or bow. Thus, the device is protected from loss even should the lace break at or near the free ends thereof. Should it be desired to replace the device with another similar device, it is only necessary to unthread the shoelace and re-engage the lowermost loop through the orifices of the replacing device.

To enable a customized appearance, the ornamentation, such as initials 22 are preferably formed independently and suitably attached using adhesives. Depending upon the forming of the body, as by casting, stamping, or the like, it is possible to form stone settings integrally.

It may thus be seen that I have invented a novel and highly useful article of jewelry adapted to be worn on the upper surface of a shoe while being engaged by the lowermost loop of a shoelace threaded in normal manner through the eyelets of the shoe. The article includes an exposed surface bearing suitable surface ornamentation or indicia, and may optionally include settings for one or more precious stones. If desired, the ornamentation may extend beyond the area of the base 11.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention to be limited to the precise details of structure illustrated and described in the specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains: 

1. In combination, an article of jewelry comprising a generally planar body, said body having at least one through opening therein; said body having an outer surface for supporting desired ornamentation; and a shoe having lace-engaging eyelets and a shoelace engaging said eyelets, said shoelace forming a lowermost loop passing through said through opening in said article of jewelry.
 2. The combination in accordance with claim 1, in which said outer surface includes a supporting area for mounting at least one jewelry stone.
 3. The combination in accordance with claim 1, in which said body is of generally rectangular configuration, and having two mutually spaced through openings.
 4. The combination in accordance with claim 1, in which said outer surface includes separately attached ornamentation. 